Planned and built by God's design
This week's study is on Ephesians 2:8-10:
I ran across these verses a few days ago in my Bible app, and they've stuck with me since. They do a great job of explaining our situation in the world, and are a source of encouragement.
We've been saved by grace, not because of something we did. We didn't build ourselves. We didn't earn an early release from hell by doing good deeds. But that's comforting, because it also means we don't have to work to maintain it. There's no "Keep doing whatever it was you did to escape hell." There's also no "I'm not good enough," or "I will always be selfish, mean-spirited, addicted, vindictive, jealous, short-tempered, and unfaithful. It's just how I am." God saves us from torment. It isn't on us to do it ourselves. We can't. We need Him. We can't brag about any of that stuff ourselves.
We are God's handiwork. He designed us. He produced us. He intended us. Our existence and the circumstances we've gone through aren't mistakes. If things have gone wrong, he has the repair manual. He knows how to fix things and has the right tools. He can not only rejuvenate us, but make us better than before.
We are created in Christ to do good works. Once we've found God, and become his family and his ambassadors, we're here to do good things. It's through Christ that we do them, not our own strength. If he gives us money, he also gives us his compassion and leading to be able to help others with it. If he gives us skills, he gives us people in need who will benefit from those skills. We're not just created and left to run down the clock until eternity officially begins. We are created for a purpose, and Christ activates that purpose and equips us.
God had such a purpose and plan for us that he planned it out in advance. He knew we were coming. We didn't catch him off guard and have him be like "Oh, you're saved from hell. Now what? Let me think about it and get back to you." There's a role in God's creation specifically for each of us. He's already got it figured out. All we have to do is follow him.
We're machines designed to reflect God's glory by doing his work on earth. We're well-designed, and made capable through Christ. His grace powers us. We have nothing to worry about.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
I ran across these verses a few days ago in my Bible app, and they've stuck with me since. They do a great job of explaining our situation in the world, and are a source of encouragement.
We've been saved by grace, not because of something we did. We didn't build ourselves. We didn't earn an early release from hell by doing good deeds. But that's comforting, because it also means we don't have to work to maintain it. There's no "Keep doing whatever it was you did to escape hell." There's also no "I'm not good enough," or "I will always be selfish, mean-spirited, addicted, vindictive, jealous, short-tempered, and unfaithful. It's just how I am." God saves us from torment. It isn't on us to do it ourselves. We can't. We need Him. We can't brag about any of that stuff ourselves.
We are God's handiwork. He designed us. He produced us. He intended us. Our existence and the circumstances we've gone through aren't mistakes. If things have gone wrong, he has the repair manual. He knows how to fix things and has the right tools. He can not only rejuvenate us, but make us better than before.
We are created in Christ to do good works. Once we've found God, and become his family and his ambassadors, we're here to do good things. It's through Christ that we do them, not our own strength. If he gives us money, he also gives us his compassion and leading to be able to help others with it. If he gives us skills, he gives us people in need who will benefit from those skills. We're not just created and left to run down the clock until eternity officially begins. We are created for a purpose, and Christ activates that purpose and equips us.
God had such a purpose and plan for us that he planned it out in advance. He knew we were coming. We didn't catch him off guard and have him be like "Oh, you're saved from hell. Now what? Let me think about it and get back to you." There's a role in God's creation specifically for each of us. He's already got it figured out. All we have to do is follow him.
We're machines designed to reflect God's glory by doing his work on earth. We're well-designed, and made capable through Christ. His grace powers us. We have nothing to worry about.
Comments
Post a Comment